As part of an ongoing partnership with the BBC, first year students on the National Diploma in Graphic Design course recently attended a one-day animation workshop at 21CC, the BBC’s digital learning centre in White City.

The students worked with BBC 21CC to create the animation to accompany Jarvis Cocker's reading of ‘London’ by William Blake, recorded as the Book at Bedtime for Rob Da Bank's BBC Radio 1 show and Poetry Season. The animated clip of the reading is currently appearing on the Radio 1 website at www.bbc.co.uk/poetryseason/poets/william_blake.shtml and has received rave reviews.

The workshop, devised to complement their National Diploma studies, enabled the students to watch their artwork come to life by mastering simple animation techniques. The latest software allowed them to grab frames using a DV camera to create stop motion animation, whilst learning how to add special effects to the animations.

Student Catherine Wiltshire participated and her work features on the website. She said: “I have enjoyed all the workshops at the BBC this year. For this one I enjoyed designing the characters. I was surprised but delighted that it's my image than is seen when you first open the Radio 1 page.”

Student Roisin McCoy added: "This was a great opportunity for us to create a clear way of expressing how we visualised poetry through animation. Having it then presented on the Radio 1 website made us all feel quite proud of what we achieved."

Shannon Francis said: "Although we got a bit too ambitious with our ideas, the end result was amazing and having it online for everyone to see is even better."

Jane Twigg, Year 1 Graphic Design Course Leader at the College, said: “It's a very good job for their first attempt at animation and I feel they've captured the atmosphere spot on."

Melanie Fryer, Project Associate at 21CC, commented: “The animation has been given rave reviews so please pass on our massive thanks and congrats to all.”